Real Estate: LIPA offers pool pump rebates

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | John and Boanne Wysoczanski’s pool at their Baiting Hollow home has the added feature of deck jets.

Own a pool and on the fence about replacing the pump this season? Consider purchasing a new energy-efficient model now — while the Long Island Power Authority’s rebate of up to $400 is, like the weather, still hot.

LIPA officials said they hope the new mail-in rebate offer will encourage pool owners to replace their single-speed pumps with Energy Star-rated equipment. The updated models operate more efficiently and at the lowest speed necessary to filter swimming pools.

Energy Star was established in 1992 as part of the Clean Air Act and is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency voluntary program to promote energy conservation. Products earning an Energy Star label have been certified through tests conducted by EPA-recognized laboratories, according to Energy Star’s website.

BARBARAELLEN KOCH PHOTO | After the Wysoczanskis installed a new pool pump, they got a $400 rebate from LIPA.

A traditional pool pump’s motor speeds are typically unchangeable and are usually set higher than is required to circulate water and clear debris, LIPA officials said.

The authority is offering two different mail-in rebates: a $150 rebate for a two-speed pool pump and a $400 rebate for a variable-speed pump.

John Wysoczanski, owner of Islandia Pools in Riverhead, said he took LIPA up on its offer last week and installed a new pump in his own pool in Baiting Hollow.

“A lot more people are thinking about it because of the rebate,” he said. “It cuts down energy costs and cleans more efficiently. It’s a no-brainer.”

Mr. Wysoczanski, who sells Pentair pool pumps priced at least $1,500, said the newer machines use less energy by operating with a magnetic field device and should last between 10 and 15 years.

While energy-efficient pool pumps initially cost more, LIPA officials said customers will see a return on their investment from energy savings over the life of the unit.

LIPA spokeswoman Elizabeth Flagler said the new models “minimize energy consumption by up to 90 percent, are extremely quiet, provide maximum water flow and pay for themselves in five years.

“On average, an Energy Star-certified pool pump can save you over $160 per year,” she said.

LIPA began offering rebates in 1999, starting with compact fluorescent bulbs and commercial lighting. Ten years later, several other products were added to the list, including photovoltaics in 2000. One of the newest products for which LIPA is offering in-store rebates is LED bulbs, Ms. Flagler said. She added that LIPA is working to incentivize other products, including energy-efficient clothes dryers.

In addition to the current pool pump rebate program, LIPA is offering $40 to $75 rebates for air conditioners, $40 for dehumidifiers and $50 to $100 for refrigerators. All appliances must also be Energy Star-rated.

LIPA’s pool pump rebate applies only to residential pools and there’s a limit of four rebates per LIPA customer. Purchases must be made between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30 and must be installed by a participating dealer in order to qualify. Rebate checks will be processed within six to eight weeks.